Officers waded through water as police searched a golf course for the weapon that killed Olivia Pratt-Korbel.
Merseyside Police carried out a search of West Derby Golf Club on Monday (September 12), aiming to find the weapons that were used on the night of Olivia Pratt-Korbel's murder. Nine-year-old Olivia was shot dead in her home on Kingsheath Avenue, Dovecot, at around 10pm on August 22.
Police believe that Joseph Nee, 35, who was being chased by a man armed with a gun, forced his way into Olivia's house and the offender ran in after Nee, firing a number of shots - one of which hit Olivia's mum Cheryl in the wrist before fatally wounding Olivia. A dark-coloured Audi then appeared at the address and picked Nee up, leaving Cheryl and daughter Olivia behind.
READ MORE: Olivia Pratt-Korbel wanted to be 'teacher or vet' before tragic death
Today marks three weeks since the killing of Olivia. Police, who have detained nine people in connection with the murder but have not charged anyone, believe that the nine-year-old's killer used two guns at the scene and left with both of them.
The privately-owned golf club was due to host two events on Monday, but was closed for the day after officers received information and wished to search the course for any discarded weapons. Approximately 50 officers descended there this morning, as specially-trained search officers from the Matrix Disruption Team carried out an extensive land search, while the North West Underwater Search Team took to the water hazards and a specialist drone unit surveyed the area from above.
The Underwater Search Team waded through a brook in the morning, focussing on shrubbery and crevices. Two officers made their way through the water, often dropping to their hands and knees, in order to survey the brook. However, they were only able to find lost golf balls.
At the same time, three search teams made their way around the course on foot in order to investigate the undergrowth. Officers and a police dog focussed on wooded areas to the perimeter of the grounds, and were assisted by two police staff who made their way around the course on scrambler bikes. A police drone was also on hand to provide views of the course from above.
Sergeant Gary Sorrell from the Matrix Disruption Team advised the team of detectives at West Derby Golf Course. Regarding the operation, he told the media: "50 assets have been deployed at the golf course today. It’s an open, land-based search, utilising search-trained officers, the underwater search team, dog officers, off-road bikes and our aerial assets as well.
"At the moment, we’re searching from Yew Tree Lane to Grenadier Drive up to the boundary with Aspes Road is one of the areas that we’re particularly concentrating on today."
He added: "We expect the search to be all day today in this particular area that we’re concentrating on. There are challenges with weather, terrain, topography, all those things have to be factored.
"Golf courses lend themselves (to searches) because they do have open areas but they have their own challenges around the perimeters, their boundaries, the wooded areas, so my job is to coordinate and make sure that the assets on the ground are safe, are aware of their aims and objectives here and then hopefully we have a good day searching and see what comes out when we’ve finished the search today."
Earlier on Monday, Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen said : “Three weeks on and our investigation continues in our relentless pursuit of the man responsible for Olivia’s murder and those who are shielding him.
“I promised that we would leave no stone unturned in our hunt for the offender and the guns used on that night, and today following information we are carrying out an extensive land search at West Derby Golf Club in our hunt for those weapons."
He added: “My message to the offender is clear – we will not stop until we have the evidence to put you before the courts and behind bars", before continuing: “Since Olivia’s murder the investigation team has been working around the clock. We have made nine arrests and we are building up an evidential picture, but we still need more information and we need to find the guns."
Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or call @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting log 1083 of August 22.
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